Thousands give test for Sebi's job call, but few shortlisted

SummarySebi is looking to increase its headcount from about 600 currently to close to 1,000.

In a massive response to Sebi's recruitment call to hire 75 officers, several thousands of the applicants appeared for a written test, but only 247 of them have managed to get shortlisted for personal interviews.

Sebi has embarked upon a major recruitment drive to carry out its newly granted powers and expanded role to regulate various segments of capital markets, while safeguarding the interest of investors from fraudsters and other manipulators.

In the first phase of this hiring drive, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) plans to hire 75 officers, while the regulator plans to conduct more recruitment exercises going ahead. Sebi is looking to increase its headcount from about 600 currently to close to 1,000.

The job call for 75 officers, who would be offered an annual pay package of about Rs 11 lakh, generated huge demand and nearly one lakh applications were received by Sebi from the interested candidates.

Out of those, several thousand applicants successfully appeared for an online written test on September 15 from across the country, while some of the candidates wrote the test from abroad also.

Sebi has now short-listed 247 candidates for the next round of selection, wherein they would have to undergo a personal interview early next month.

The regulator is hiring these 75 officers as part of its plans to beef up its headcount for faster and more effective execution of newly granted powers.

The recruitment drive began soon after the government decided to grant greater execution powers and a larger oversight role against potential investment fraud that would require Sebi to have a much larger workforce.

Besides, the capital market regulator is opening local offices on a pan-India basis for enhanced investor awareness and services that require additional manpower.

An independent consultant recently suggested Sebi increase its workforce to about 1,000 employees in order to meet future manpower requirements to take full ownership of regulatory oversight of all investment schemes besides staff requirement in regional offices as well as local offices.

The staff strength also needs to be enhanced to meet its future role and functions, said the consultant which was hired to suggest ways for an overhaul of Sebi's role, vision and functions.